Techniques offered on this page are for advice only and do not represent all available angling techniques on offer to anglers who visit Bemm River.  Many people use lures and plastics and practice catch and release.  Please do not take issue with any of the tips given here - if they don't work don't be disappointed, the fishing might be off on the particular day or they are simply not there.  Just up anchor and keep shifting.

 

The number one tip is ASK!! When you arrive in town ask around what is biting; where they are biting and what they are biting on.  The shop and the hotel are probably your prime spots but the jetty is also a good source of information.  Most anglers are only too happy to let you in on their 'secret spots'.

 

Check the weather and the tides.  Fishing isn't all about just chucking a line in a hoping a fish will come along and eat it.  You need to be aware of what the weather is doing.  For example the barometric pressure is an indication on where fish may be present in the water table.  If the pressure is rising, the fish will be more active in the upper levels but if the pressure is dropping then the bream may be relatively inactive and located closer to the bottom. 

 

Inlet Fishing

It is advisable to fish from a small to medium sized boat, as access from the shore to the inlet is limited to a few places.  Boat hire is available but check before you arrive   The Bemm is famous for bream fishing and anglers travel from near and far for a chance to land a big one.  The Inlet closes to the ocean when the sand bar at the mouth builds up in rough weather.  The Inlet is opened by blasting only after it rises about 1,6 metres above the normal level.  With the new raised car park there will no longer be flooding of the car park and the landing ramp at the Main Jetty will still be in use.  Care should be taken in rough weather.  Back ropes are recommended in rough weather when launching and retrieving your boat.  Seek advice if it looks like being rough and you are using the Finger Jetty.

 

When the Inlet is open to the ocean, the water level in Sydenham Inlet can result in the sand bars being covered by only a few centre meters of water or even becoming exposed.  If the water level is low you may be required to get out and pull your boat across the sand bars in to the river or to Swan Lake Channel.

 

If you are using bait then it needs to be the right type and fresh, preferably still alive.  A variety of baits is available in town with the major outlet at the shop.  When the lake is low, sandworm is available at the shop but when high you should check with the shop on availability.  Although sandworm is good for luderick, it does attract all varieties of fish, even the little ones.  If you're chasing something a little bigger, give local frozen prawn a go.  If it is summer time and the flatties are around then you can't go past live mullet.  These can be caught in a bait trap (available at tackle shops) or by using a very small hook with bait on the end.  Remember if keeping live bait - mullet, sandworm, shrimp or prawns - change the water often and keep it covered with a wet towel or similar.  Don't let it warm up.  To keep bait alive for any length of time, you will need an aerator to keep the water oxygenated.

 

As Sydenham Inlet is a predominantly shallow lake, big boats are limited to where they can go.  Once the entrance closes and the water rises, this does change.  A 12-14' tinnie is ideal and don't go overboard on the motor size - it just needs to get you from point A to point B and in this lake that isn't far.  When the lake is shallow most people use 'boat poles'.  These are typically tree saplings, borrowed, of course, from where-ever you are staying and not cut from our beautiful bush, about 3-4m long which are pushed into the lake bottom at the front and rear of the boat.  Place the bow pole in first and tie the boat to it.  Let the wind, if there is any, swing you around.  Once you are facing into the wind, put in the stern pole and secure the boat.  This will give you a steady fishing platform from which you can fish in any direction (I'll post some photos of this soon so you can see what it's all about).  Some people only use a front pole and put out a 'weight' from the stern.  This weight is usually a big hunk of something heavy, usually lead, that will stop the boat moving.  The reason for not using an anchor or anchors is because the bottom of the lake is mostly mud and the anchors tend to slip.  One thing to remember is don't push your pole in too far - they are a bugger to get out some times.  There are still a few out in the lake so be careful when navigating.

 

Once you've 'poled up' and baited up, cast you're line as far from the boat as possible. This is due to the shallowness of the lake. Most people use a running sinker rig which allows the bait to float around in the water unimpeded by the sinker.  If you're using live bait, a running sinker gives it a chance to swim around - a much better bait presentation.

Luderick are often caught in the inlet, channel and river.  The best bait is probably weed but most anglers use sandworm as this will land bream as well as luderick.  Again a running sinker is used with the sandworm.  For fishing with weed, the luderick need to be around in numbers.  The cabbage weed can be collected at low tide at Pearl Point and a float is recommended as used in NSW and Qld.

 

GPS Co-ordinates

In the calm weather, several boats have been lost in the Inlet in the fog.  We have included several GPS co-ordinates for your safety. 

 

 

That should get you started.

 

 Above is a good Bemm setup - small boat, good size outboard and electric on the bow.

 

River Fishing from the Bank

There are several places to access the river by walking including at the back of the farm through the walk way provided, from the road into town at Dolly’s Garden, from the track at the barrel drain on the road into town and from around the bridge.  Fishing from the bank is best when the bream are spawning up the River in August to December.  Best success is with bait typically with a running sinker and sandworm or peeled prawn.  Above the waterfall near the bridge, the river is fresh water and trout and bass are sought in some of the upstream rugged valleys.  

 

Beach Fishing

Surf or rock fishing is possible south west of the town by a short road trip toward Pearl Point or by boating across the inlet to the channel and surf fishing at the blowhole or at the mouth of the inlet channel.  During the day on a rising tide, salmon are the main target.  Salmon to 2 kg are not uncommon and the best rigs are bait on one hook and a popper on the other.  Salmon are also targeted by fishermen using lures in the surf.    Mullet are another target fish in closer on lighter gear.  Gummy shark are also caught particularly at night and on a full moon.  Best bait for the gummies is eel.

 

Tidal Information  The tides for Bemm River beaches are 3 hours and 21 minutes before Port Phillip heads.  The link below gives the closest approximation using Eden in NSW.  You will need to add 10 minutes to these tide times.  The link gives a 7 day tide starting from the date you select as the commencing date.  If you do not select a date it will start from today.  Close the page to return to this site.

Link to tides - Eden - Department of Meterology

 

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